SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
A surgical robotic show was recently held by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a member of the M42 group, to motivate the UAE's upcoming medical workforce.
Highlighting the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical system for minimally invasive procedures, the event is enabling students to see how this cutting-edge technology is transforming healthcare and improving patient outcomes.
By eliminating the need for open operations, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a regional leader in robotic-assisted care, has transformed challenging surgeries.
In just the first half of this year, the hospital performed 141 robotic treatments for 46 different kinds of surgery.
With the goal to gain insight into how robots are influencing the future of medicine, attendees interacted with specialists during the roadshow.
In an interview with Aletihad, Dr. Shafik Sidani, Section Head of General Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, outlined the evolution of surgical techniques.
"Historically, we performed surgeries in the abdomen or chest with large incisions, leading to complications with healing and extended hospital stays. Patients often faced a long recovery before returning to their normal lives."
"Laparoscopy, or keyhole surgery, then came along, enabling us to perform procedures with smaller incisions," he continued.
Patients' healing durations and complications were greatly shortened by this invention.
With the advent of robotic surgery, minimally invasive procedures became more prevalent, making it possible to do more accurate surgeries with smaller incisions, Dr. Sidani said.
"Both patients and surgeons can profit greatly from robotic surgery. This is revolutionising healthcare as we witness better outcomes with fewer complications and faster recoveries," he added.
Moving to the UAE's advancement in the healthcare sector, Dr. Sidani underlined the dedication of the UAE leadership to attracting talented doctors and surgeons to the country.
He mentioned that the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is working to provide cutting-edge medical solutions that will profoundly change the UAE's healthcare system.
"Traditionally, many patients, both expats and nationals, travelled abroad for surgery and healthcare. However, we are now witnessing a significant shift. More patients are choosing to stay here because we can offer advanced surgical options and effective recovery processes," he said.
The event witnessed keen participation from school students. Ghala Al Salehi, an 11th grader, said, "I would definitely recommend this experience to my family and friends."
Expressing her enthusiasm, another student, Shaikha Almalki said, "We experienced robotic surgeries and observed them being performed."
For Al Joury Al Hammadi, witnessing these advancements and how they are improving our country's healthcare is "inspiring."